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Two Dozen Churches To Take Part In Maundy Thursday Event

Local group One In Christ will host the sixth annual Maundy Thursday event on March 29 in downtown Jamestown at the Reg Lenna Center For The Arts at 6:30 p.m. Over 20 churches have collaborated to make the event possible. Pictured is the community choir from last year’s event. Submitted photo

More than 20 churches will be under one roof on March 29 for the annual Maundy Thursday combined service.

The annual event will be held at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts at 6:30 p.m. and will include many area churches that are contributing in various ways. The Rev. Mark Hanson of Church of the Nazarene said this is the sixth event of its kind.

Hanson, chairman of the event, said it is put on by One In Christ, a local group that hosts Christian gatherings in the area. The group found its origins in the Tuesday morning Pastors Prayer Gathering which has been ongoing for a number of years.

Hanson said the Maundy Thursday service stemmed from a similar service that occurred in Buffalo a few years back.

“The purpose was to bring the church together in Jamestown in unity,” he said.

Generally, about 1,200 people attend the event. This year’s theme is “Simply Loved.”

Right after last year’s event, Hanson said someone spoke those words and they stuck with him for a while. He mentioned them to the other leaders involved and right away, they agreed that should be the theme.

“With all the division in the country, we thought that was something we should get back to,” Hanson said. “Knowing that we are loved and to love others.”

There have been some changes to the event for this year, including a shortened timeframe. After receiving some feedback from those who had attended the event last year, Hanson said the decision was made to keep the event to a length of an hour-and-a-half. There will still be communion and a community choir, as well as a dramatic performance. This year, however, there will only be one speaker as opposed to two.

The Rev. Mark Hinman will be addressing the crowd this year. Hanson said the whole group agreed that Hinman should be the speaker.

The event has been growing in momentum, and Hanson said this year should be no different. He said in his 25 years of pastoring, he has never seen people come together in such a way before.

“It’s been a life changer for several people,” he said. “We’re from all different denominations, but we come together with one purpose. If we can show (unity) in the church, maybe it can spill over into the world.”

Hanson said coming under one roof and working together could provide an example to others.

“Sometimes, the solution is simply loving one another,” he said.

That theme is central to the special occasion that is Maundy Thursday. Hanson said the term “Maundy Thursday” comes from the Latin words, “Mandatum Novum,” which means the “New Commandment.” This references when the Apostles are given the “new command” by Jesus to “love one another as I have loved you.”

“We are to serve one another in love,” Hanson said.

For those who have not attended a church or who have not done so in a long time, Hanson said this could be a non-threatening way to test the waters. He said it isn’t being held in a church and it won’t be an awkward situation.

“It’s not threatening, you can just kind of come in and see what the hubbub is about, so to speak,” he said.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 484-5922.

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